Lunar New Year and Taiwanese festival Mandarin
Greetings for Lunar New Year, red envelopes, Mid-Autumn barbecues, Dragon Boat, temple visits, long weekends and make-up work days — Taiwan festival Mandarin with pinyin.
Lunar New Year is the big one. guònián shuts much of the country for several days, families gather for a reunion dinner, and the greetings you'll need are xīnnián kuàilè and gōngxǐ fācái. Cash goes to children and parents in a hóngbāo — a red envelope — where the etiquette is about the number rather than the amount: even numbers, and avoid anything built on four.
The rest of the calendar has its own vocabulary. Mid-Autumn means mooncakes and, in a thoroughly modern Taiwanese twist, barbecues on every pavement. Dragon Boat means zòngzi. And because holidays get shuffled to create long weekends, Taiwan has bǔbān — a make-up work day, often a Saturday, that pays back the extra day off.
20 phrases for festivals & customs
| What you say | Pinyin | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Lunar New Year. | guònián | 過年 |
| Happy New Year! | xīnnián kuàilè! | 新年快樂！ |
| Wishing you prosperity! (the New Year greeting) | gōngxǐ fācái! | 恭喜發財！ |
| Red envelope (of cash). | hóngbāo | 紅包 |
| New Year's Eve family dinner. | wéilú | 圍爐 |
| To worship at a temple. (same sound as bye-bye) | bàibài | 拜拜 |
| Temple. | miào | 廟 |
| Hold the incense. | ná xiāng | 拿香 |
| Mid-Autumn Festival. | zhōngqiūjié | 中秋節 |
| Barbecue. (what Taiwan does at Mid-Autumn) | kǎoròu | 烤肉 |
| Mooncake. | yuèbǐng | 月餅 |
| Dragon Boat Festival. | duānwǔjié | 端午節 |
| Sticky rice dumpling. | zòngzi | 粽子 |
| Lantern Festival. | yuánxiāojié | 元宵節 |
| Day off / on holiday. | fàngjià | 放假 |
| Long weekend. | liánjià | 連假 |
| A make-up work day. (a Taiwan special) | bǔbān | 補班 |
| Give a gift. | sònglǐ | 送禮 |
| Firecrackers. | biānpào | 鞭炮 |
What you'll hear back
The other half of the conversation — what the vendor, clerk or nurse says to you. Understanding these is usually harder than speaking.
| What they say | Pinyin | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Congratulations! | gōngxǐ! | 恭喜！ |
Questions people ask
How much should go in a red envelope?
The amount depends entirely on the relationship, but the conventions are firm: use even numbers, avoid anything with a four in it, and use new notes. Asking a Taiwanese friend or colleague what's normal for your situation is completely acceptable.
Why does everyone barbecue at Mid-Autumn?
It's a modern Taiwanese custom rather than an ancient one, and it's now near-universal — pavements, car parks and riversides fill with grills. Mooncakes and pomelos are the traditional half of the festival.
What is 補班?
A make-up work day. When a public holiday is moved to create a long weekend, a Saturday is designated as a normal working and school day to compensate. It's published in the official calendar in advance.
Do shops close for Lunar New Year?
Many small shops, markets and family restaurants close for several days, while convenience stores and larger chains generally stay open. Stock up before New Year's Eve and expect a quieter city for a week.